Do you remember where you were when you heard about the Beirut Bombings? "I was in my bedroom while the radio was going on. It was a Sunday, I was getting ready for church when I heard about it playing on the news. I remember thinking just before that, to that day, October 23rd, my mother had died three years earlier. Anyways, when I heard this on the radio my immediate thought was, that can't be John. I didn't know where was he was at the time but I just thought that it could not be John, it just couldn't"
When did you find out that it actually was your son, John?
"On the Tuesday following the bombing, two Marine officers came to our door. Then, when I saw them, I knew. I just knew that what I had hoped for was not the truth."
What where you thinking at the time?
"Well, it was a terrible feeling like I said, I did not think it was the truth. I asked if they knew it was him, because of the fact there was an explosion, sometimes you can not identify the bodies... They said, well it is very cool, when you go into the Army or Military or whatever and you get your dog tag, they engrave your teeth, with the notch between your two up and bottom teeth"
What did you do after? "We took a flight to DC to meet the coffin that was taken to the morgue. They asked us if we wanted to look at the body. My husband, who was not John's real dad, walked in and looked. His report was that John looked fine, but I wouldn't go in. My other son, Harold, went in. Harold later told me that John was dressed in his marines uniform, so he couldn't tell if he was missing any body parts, so Harold felt around and discovered what John was missing."
Did Harold ever tell you what John was missing, if so, what? "No, I did not ask and I did not want to know. I assumed that Harold knew that because he never brought it up."
Do you have any connections with the bombing now? "Yes, I actually do. I am a part of the lawsuit. The lawsuit was filed by a group of families, including myself, that had marine relatives who died in the bombing. The lawsuit is against Iran and is worth millions of dollars. We ended up winning the lawsuit and Iran gave us $25,000 each. The thing is, the government holds this money and Obama, uhhh Obama, and the secretary of treasury will not give us the money, sent to us, because they think that this would upset Iran."
What do you think of the law suit?
"I think that if we were to win then it would be wonderful, who wouldn't want some money? And also, I think that it would make Iran realizes what pain they caused us. This would put Iran in our shoes and since they owe us something, it would show their apology."
Have you talked publicly about your experience, if so, where?
"Yes. Your aunt and I were asked to speak about our experience on Oprah. Your mother would not go though because she thought it was too sad. Since Oprah was aired in Chicago, they asked families that were affected by the bombing who lived in Chicago. Oprah asked us about what happened and we told her our stories."
Topic - 1983 Beirut Barracks Bombing
Interview subject - Nancy Phillips (Catherine's gma)
Do you remember where you were when you heard about the Beirut Bombings?
"I was in my bedroom while the radio was going on. It was a Sunday, I was getting ready for church when I heard about it playing on the news. I remember thinking just before that, to that day, October 23rd, my mother had died three years earlier. Anyways, when I heard this on the radio my immediate thought was, that can't be John. I didn't know where was he was at the time but I just thought that it could not be John, it just couldn't"
When did you find out that it actually was your son, John?
"On the Tuesday following the bombing, two Marine officers came to our door. Then, when I saw them, I knew. I just knew that what I had hoped for was not the truth."
What where you thinking at the time?
"Well, it was a terrible feeling like I said, I did not think it was the truth. I asked if they knew it was him, because of the fact there was an explosion, sometimes you can not identify the bodies... They said, well it is very cool, when you go into the Army or Military or whatever and you get your dog tag, they engrave your teeth, with the notch between your two up and bottom teeth"
What did you do after?
"We took a flight to DC to meet the coffin that was taken to the morgue. They asked us if we wanted to look at the body. My husband, who was not John's real dad, walked in and looked. His report was that John looked fine, but I wouldn't go in. My other son, Harold, went in. Harold later told me that John was dressed in his marines uniform, so he couldn't tell if he was missing any body parts, so Harold felt around and discovered what John was missing."
Did Harold ever tell you what John was missing, if so, what?
"No, I did not ask and I did not want to know. I assumed that Harold knew that because he never brought it up."
Do you have any connections with the bombing now?
"Yes, I actually do. I am a part of the lawsuit. The lawsuit was filed by a group of families, including myself, that had marine relatives who died in the bombing. The lawsuit is against Iran and is worth millions of dollars. We ended up winning the lawsuit and Iran gave us $25,000 each. The thing is, the government holds this money and Obama, uhhh Obama, and the secretary of treasury will not give us the money, sent to us, because they think that this would upset Iran."
What do you think of the law suit?
"I think that if we were to win then it would be wonderful, who wouldn't want some money? And also, I think that it would make Iran realizes what pain they caused us. This would put Iran in our shoes and since they owe us something, it would show their apology."
Have you talked publicly about your experience, if so, where?
"Yes. Your aunt and I were asked to speak about our experience on Oprah. Your mother would not go though because she thought it was too sad. Since Oprah was aired in Chicago, they asked families that were affected by the bombing who lived in Chicago. Oprah asked us about what happened and we told her our stories."